NOVEL NEXT Chapter 198: Yuwen Family
Yuwen Kang had yet to return, while Ji Tianhong, shrinking with fear, hid to one side, cautiously watching Han Zheng converse with others.
Seeing Wen Jingyun and Tuoba Feng showing such grateful and deferential attitudes towards Han Zheng, Ji Tianhong's fear of Han Zheng peaked.
How terrifying Han Zheng was!
He could align and split alliances, ultimately shattering the Martial World's alliance in Smoke Wave Prefecture. Ji Tianhong merely thought Han Zheng was formidable and skilled, but did not perceive him as terrifying.
But witnessing the behavior of Wen Jingyun and others towards Han Zheng, Ji Tianhong felt that Han Zheng was genuinely horrifying.
Han Zheng had avenged a great grievance for Wen Jingyun, for which the previously timid and enduring head of the Wen Family was truly willing to go through fire and water for Han Zheng and fight to the death.
Tuoba Feng, simple-minded as he was, would only grow more resolute when faced with strength. Liao Hongsheng had defeated him once, yet his attitude towards Liao Hongsheng was less than cordial—merely avoiding a head-on clash.
However, now Han Zheng had not only directly subdued Tuoba Feng but had also won him over thoroughly with magnanimity and a compelling mental state.
There was even less to say about Chen Jiuzhen.
Previously, the Black Water Gang had been bullied by all. But after following Han Zheng, not only did they annihilate the Lishan Sect in revenge, but they also seized the foundation of the Lishan Sect, greatly enhancing the strength of the Black Water Gang.
For the Black Water Gang, Han Zheng was like their rebirth benefactor. How could Chen Jiuzhen not loyally serve Han Zheng to his death?
Even Ji Tianhong felt that after following Han Zheng, Chen Jiuzhen had gained confidence, and even his own cultivation had greatly increased.
Previously, the Yue Family had been arrogant and overbearing due to their superiority over other forces; nobody sincerely recognized the Yue Family's authority, not even verbally.
Although the Yuwen Family had a good reputation, they lacked sharpness and verve and always operated from the shadows. People outwardly respected the Yuwen Family but respected only their strength.
And yet Han Zheng, an outsider and the Demon Sweeping Colonel of Smoke Wave Prefecture, had now thoroughly subdued the three major forces into complete submission. Such truthfully was terrifying!
Ji Tianhong wasn't an admirable person; he was famously opportunistic and duplicitous.
But now, he had made up his mind. As long as Han Zheng remained in Smoke Wave Prefecture, he must obey Han Zheng's words.
Han Zheng told him to go east, and he wouldn't dare go west.
This young man was truly too terrifying; becoming his enemy would likely lead him to the same fate as the Lishan Sect and the Yue Family.
Meanwhile, back at Yuwen Family's stronghold in Tingtao Valley, Yuwen Kang had returned home in a flurry.
Tingtao Valley was so named because a great river roared through the valley, eventually flowing into Smoke Wave Lake.
The Yuwen Family's villa was built beside this great river, where one could hear the sound of the river's rush.
Yuwen Kang entered the family domain and went straight to a secret chamber, hastily knocking on the door.
"Elder Ancestor, are you cultivating?"
"Come in."
A frail voice called from inside, and Yuwen Kang hurriedly pushed the door open.
The secret chamber was void of any light and, other than the main door, had no windows at all, immersed in complete darkness.
Only when the door was opened could one glimpse an emaciated old man sitting inside, resembling skin draped over bones.
The old man's hair and beard were completely white, his face full of wrinkles, and his eyelids drooped as if to cover his eyes completely; he was unspeakably aged.
He was Yuwen Xizhen, the oldest living martial artist in Smoke Wave Prefecture.
Yuwen Kang claimed that his ancestor had given up on cultivation, spending time fishing and gardening at home. But looking at Yuwen Xizhen, he hardly seemed like someone who spent his days fishing and gardening.
"Did something go wrong with the attack on the Black Water Gang? But with your strength, there shouldn't have been any surprises. Could it be that the Demon Cleansing Bureau's brat from Kai Ping Prefecture's headquarters called for reinforcements?"
Yuwen Xizhen's voice was hoarse and low, even slightly muddled.
Yuwen Kang took a deep breath and responded, "Elder Ancestor sees clearly; indeed, there was an issue, but it's even more troublesome than Han Zheng calling for reinforcements!
Our Smoke Wave Prefecture's six-family alliance in the Martial World is thoroughly dissolved from today!
We underestimated that Han Zheng. His methods are cruel and ruthless, uniting and separating, completely shattering our internal alliance!
Tuoba Feng, for some reason, chose to stand aside and observe, while the Wen Family directly defected, fighting to the death to stand by Han Zheng's side.
And that bastard Ji Tianhong!
This duplicitous guy was the first to surrender, and his defeat was akin to a collapsing mountain, his disciples utterly unable to resist."
The outcome of this battle was that both Yue Tiande and Yue Qing were killed by Han Zheng; the Yue Family was now doomed to destruction!
Furthermore, Han Zheng wanted to completely ruin the reputation of the Yuwen Family, demanding that they also take action to obliterate the Yue Family.
"Elder, what should we do now?"
Yuwen Xizhen sighed lightly and gently shook his head, "I've told you many times not to underestimate the Demon Cleansing Bureau.
Each generation of our Martial World factions may produce one or two outstanding successors, but what about the Demon Cleansing Bureau? Each branch within is filled with remarkable talents.
The former Demon Sweeping Captain, Liao Hongsheng, was not to be trifled with, and now you think the younger Han Zheng will be easier to deal with? You are gravely mistaken!"
"Then, Elder, do we have no choice but to bow down, send people to destroy the Yue Family, and ruin our own reputation?"
"What else do you propose?"
Yuwen Xizhen suddenly lifted his eyelids, revealing a pair of sharp and piercing eyes filled with chilling ferocity.
"Ah Kang, you disappoint me.
Have you forgotten what truly lies at the core of our Yuwen Family?
As long as Han Zheng doesn't touch those core aspects, what do spirit lands or minerals matter, what does the Martial World's reputation matter? Just give them to him!
You're taking your role as the family head too seriously, even forgetting your own place!"
Yuwen Kang immediately broke out in a cold sweat.
Yuwen Xizhen was not Yue Tiande; his control over the Yuwen Family was beyond everyone's imagination.
His position as family head could be taken away with just a word.
"Elder, calm your anger! I know what to do now!"
Yuwen Xizhen lowered his eyelids again and waved his hand lightly, "Go, cooperate with Han Zheng and eliminate the Yue Family.
Remember, make it look a bit forced, more convincing, and show the Yuwen Family as being reluctantly compliant; do not let Han Zheng detect any flaws."
"Yes, Elder."
Yuwen Kang quickly exited the secret room and summoned the disciples of the Yuwen Family.
Two hours later, Yuwen Kang, leading more than two hundred elites of the Yuwen Family, met up with Han Zheng and showed extreme humility.
Seeing this, Ji Tianhong completely gave up.
The Yuwen Family had humbly submitted; in the future, he might as well obediently serve Han Zheng like a dog.
Han Zheng waved his hand, and many martial artists charged towards the Yue Family.
At this moment, the Yue Family was still garrisoned by a martial artist in the Xuan Gang Realm, Yue Jiang.
Yue Jiang's strength was slightly inferior to Yue Qing's, being in the middle stage of the Xuan Gang Realm.
It wasn't a matter of talent, but rather that Yue Qing, having become the family head, had access to more resources and thus had slightly higher cultivation.
The Elder and Yue Qing had taken most of the Yue Family disciples to annihilate the Black Water Gang, leaving Yue Jiang to let the kitchen prepare some dishes while he drank and complained to himself about the Elder's injustice.
By blood relation, he was the direct lineage of the Elder, yet the Elder had chosen Yue Qing as the family head.
It would have been fine if Yue Qing had led well, but he had done a terrible job.
This new Demon Sweeping Captain, Han Zheng, merely a young lad in his twenties, had managed to outmaneuver him completely.
Now he had escalated the situation beyond control, even forcing the Elder to step in and clean up the mess.
What right did such a worthless person have to be the family head? The role should belong to him!
The more Yue Jiang thought about it, the angrier he became, downing the wine in his glass and slamming it forcefully on the table.
Just then, a martial artist disciple of the Yue Family, covered in blood and looking utterly disheveled, rushed in.
"Elder, it's terrible! Our Yue Family is finished!"
Yue Jiang frowned, "What nonsense are you spouting? How is our Yue Family finished?"
"The family head and the Elder are both dead, the Wen Family and Breaking Extreme Sect have betrayed us, and the Yuwen Family and Xuanyuan Cave have surrendered to Han Zheng. Now, these forces have joined together and are marching to completely obliterate our Yue Family!"
Yue Jiang's hand trembled violently, and the cup fell to the floor, shattering into pieces.